Waterfront Park Near Me: Swan Boats and Cherry Trees at Lake Balboa

Lake Balboa / Anthony C. Beilenson Park, at 6300 Balboa Blvd in the Lake Balboa neighborhood of the San Fernando Valley, is a free city park built around a 27-acre lake inside the Sepulveda Basin. A 1.3-mile footpath circles the water, swan boats rent for $11 an hour per adult, and in early spring the shore turns pink with cherry blossoms. If you need a waterfront park near me in the Valley, this is the big one, with room to walk, fish and picnic without the beach traffic.

The lake is an engineering story. The city's park page explains that Lake Balboa is filled with water reclaimed from domestic use, mechanically and chemically treated before it is released into the lake, and the source is the nearby Tillman Water Reclamation Plant. The park around it covers about 80 acres. In 1998 it was renamed Anthony C. Beilenson Park to honor the former congressman for his long career in community and government service, which is why both names still appear on maps and signs.

That reclaimed water shapes every rule here. The city prohibits swimming and any other water contact, and paddle boards are not allowed because of the water conditions. Dogs are welcome on a leash but may not swim in the lake. Treat the lake as scenery and habitat, and save the swimming for the coast.

The park's spring fame comes from its cherry trees. According to former LA County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky's office, Canare Corp., a Japan-based cable manufacturer, donated more than 1,000 cherry trees in two rounds, in 1990 and in 2009, to plant at Lake Balboa. When they bloom, the shoreline path becomes one of the most photographed walks in the Valley, so come on a weekday morning if you can.

Outside blossom season the trees still give the loop structure and some shade, but be honest with yourself about timing. If you are coming only for the pink, a fall visit will disappoint. October is better for birds, quiet water and a long walk around the lake.

The footpath that surrounds the lake is the heart of a visit. The city restricts it to foot traffic, with exceptions only for wheelchairs and baby strollers, so it stays calm compared with the bike-heavy paths elsewhere in the basin. Bikes and scooters belong on the roads and other trails, not on the lake loop. One lap takes most walkers well under an hour, which leaves time to stop at the benches, watch the anglers on the grass banks and let kids count the ducks drifting near the edge.

Kite flyers have a designated area rather than the whole lawn, so look for the posted zone before you unspool a line. If you are curious about the water itself, the city points visitors to LA Sanitation and Environment, which publishes the latest sampling results for Lake Balboa on its river quality page. It is worth a glance before a long lakeside picnic, especially in late summer when the water sits warm and still.

Wheel Fun Rentals operates the swan boats year-round, 365 days a year, weather permitting, from 9 am until sunset. The city lists the cost at $11 per adult and $6 per child for one hour, and the operator's phone is (818) 212-4263. A slow pedal across the lake is the easiest way to see the shoreline from the water. The city also sells kayak classes and passes online, the one other way onto the lake besides remote-control boats.

Fishing is popular along the banks. A license is required for anyone 16 and older, state fishing regulations apply, and fishing is restricted to the grass areas next to the water. Fishing from the walkway itself is prohibited, except for anglers in wheelchairs. Remote-control electric boats and sailboats are allowed, but gas-powered boats are not.

Groups can reserve picnic pavilions by calling (818) 756-8187 at least one month in advance, and the city strictly prohibits alcohol and amplified sound at them. Smaller groups can simply spread out on the lawns. One rule surprises visitors: the city's Municipal Code bans feeding waterfowl, so leave the bread at home even though the ducks will ask. Model rockets of all types are prohibited too.

The wider basin is changing fast. In a March 4, 2026 release, Mayor Karen Bass's office said more than 50 encampments had been cleared from the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area and named it as a future venue for skateboarding, BMX freestyle and racing, 3x3 basketball and the Modern Pentathlon at the 2028 Olympic Games. Expect more programming and construction around the edges as LA28 approaches. The city also notes that the park may close in rainy weather.

The Metro G Line stops at Balboa station, 6340 N. Balboa Blvd, which serves the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area. Metro currently lists the station's parking lot as closed until further notice, so drivers should use the park lots and transit riders should walk over from the busway rather than hoping for a park-and-ride space.

Pair the lake with The Japanese Garden at 6100 Woodley Ave, a six-and-a-half-acre garden in the same basin that describes itself as three gardens in one. It is the classic second stop, and a plan B if the lake path is crowded on a blossom weekend.

Birders should continue to the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve. Its official site tells visitors to use 6100 Woodley Avenue, which leads to the park road called Wildlife Way and the reserve's parking lot. It is the place to go with binoculars once you have finished the lake loop.

The park is open sunrise to sunset, and admission is free. The park office phone is (818) 756-9743. No swimming, no paddle boards and no dog swims. Fishing requires a license at 16 and older. Feeding the ducks is not allowed. Swan boats cost $11 per adult and $6 per child for an hour. After heavy rain, the park may close, so a dry day is the safe bet.